Local players compete in state open

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NEW HAVEN — Eight local players were selected to participate in the girls state tennis open tournament.

Meghan Toth, Naugatuck’s senior captain, won her opening-round match in the state singles open tournament.

Woodland's Megan Wester, above, like Naugatuck's Meghan Toth, was dropped from the state open by 13th-seeded Olivia Arruda of St. Bernards.

Toth won her match, 8-3, after it was delayed by rain Saturday. On Monday, Toth finished off Miriam Barilot of Granby Memorial, picking up the 5-2 lead she left behind two days earlier.

“The key was being mentally strong,” said Toth in describing the layover between Saturday and Monday. “I was playing well, and I had to find a way to keep it going.”

In the next round, Toth lost, 8-0, to sophomore Olivia Arruda, the tournament’s 13th seed from St. Bernard’s.

“She just hit it hard and she was putting it in all the right places,” Toth said of Arruda.

Despite the loss, Toth appreciated the opportunity to compete at a high level.

“You get to some girls that play like pros,” Toth said.  “I just tried to take all the experience from it.”

In other singles action, Sarah Yacavone, another Naugatuck senior, lost in the opening round. Katelyn Cimmino of Amity beat Yacavone, 8-1.

Steph Badale and Megan Wester represented Woodland.  Wester lost to Arruda in the first round, 8-4, while Badale lost to Andreana Moschello, the NVL singles champ and 15th seed in the tournament, 8-4 in the first round.

Wester’s match was also stopped due to rain.  She was down 4-3 when the match ceased.

In doubles action, the Woodland’s tandem of Samantha Angeloszek and Jill Pagoni lost, 8-0, in the opening round to Ariel Hovland and Olabisi Orisamolu of South Windsor.

“Sam and Jill didn’t play their best match that day,” Woodland head coach Mike Magas said. “But in the big picture, they had a tremendous season.”

Angeloszek and Pagoni finished the season with a 24-2 record.

Naugatuck’s Danielle Charette and Becca Mitchel were selected to play on the doubles side, but did not participate due to a prior commitment.

The open gives good players a chance to test their skills against the state’s best players.  Win or lose, it’s an honor just to be there.

“I was very proud of them,” Magas said of his players.